INSIGNIAS: THE REGALIS

The mace easily rammed through the three thick walls of earth standing between the two of them, sending the heavy blocks of earth flying in all directions causing the trees around to fall on their deaths and making the people around seek shelter. The spikes of the mace gleamed as it advanced towards its enemy without hesitation. In his perspective, however, everything seemed to slow down – the movements of the fast-approaching mace, the rainfall of blocks of earth he set up as walls, the rustling of the leaves, and the loud voices telling him to move. It wasn’t the first time he felt like it was his end.

Clyne easily dodged the mace and it smashed through several trees behind him. He took several heavy and deep breaths as he watched it clear four rows of trees. He quickly turned around to check his friends’ conditions. He spotted Lei nearby standing on top of a bulging tree root as it slowly raise her. Her opponent was nowhere in sight. He couldn’t see the others but he sensed them. The speed of the wind rapidly changed for the past minutes. He could hear the loud splashing of water. But he felt Aria’s presence so far away from him. It made him so anxious that he forgot his own enemy for a moment.

When he heard the mace as it cut through the air, he ran away. He glanced at the man sitting on a tree branch, relaxing while watching Clyne being chased by his deadly weapon. It seemed that the man’s power never ran out. The fight started in the morning and the sky had now turned to orange. Soon, darkness would envelop everything. The group promised to help one another after they finish their own fight. But everyone’s position didn’t change. Everyone kept getting farther and farther from each other. Clyne knew this because he kept track of their distance from one other. How strong are these people? Don’t they get tired? He wondered if they plan to exhaust them before killing them. He shivered at the thought.

He collapsed behind a 10-feet tall rock near the edge of the cliff. The sunset had painted the grass into the shade of gold. Glancing at the edge of the clip, he studied the structure and height of the fall by making an abstract map in his mind. He could see it by only touching the ground. The drop was almost 20 feet. Contemplating on his next move as he tried to normalize his breathing and heartbeat, he wondered about what kind of trap he should make. Before he could come up with a plan, he heard the mace ramming through the trees behind his rock shelter. He looked at his left then right and found himself sandwiched between two more rocks, blocking the ways to re-enter the forest. It’s okay. Just dodge it then run back. However, his body chose a different route. Fearing that the mace was too fast for him, Clyne ran toward the edge of the clip. Without a second thought, he jumped, knowing that the fall wasn’t too deep. But it was. On the ground of the drop was a hole, right where he was supposed to land. There was no light inside. Why didn’t I sense it earlier? His body entered the hole and darkness immediately consumed him. His heart went into a panic as he continued to plunge into the nothingness without knowing how deep the fall was and how to save himself. Then a bloodcurdling thought entered his mind. Is this like the hole where granda and uncle fell into? As he continued to fall, the memory of the morning flashed before his eyes.

Almost 10 hours ago, the group of seven had left the territory of Westward to cross Faymagnates, the region of the port where a boat would bring Nate, Faz, Tessa, Skhy, Lei, Aria, and Clyne to the Shadow Islands. This was a day after the group reunited with Hanne and Storm or Ciar. It wasn’t a good reunion. Hanne was accompanied by Karl’s associate to the Lux Signifer Academy. The travel from Northern Lux to Cornerstone only lasted for a few seconds because the group used another portal in the region. The one in the academy was already forever broken.

Clyne watched in awe as the group walked into the towns of Faymagnates. The region wasn’t as modern as Highport nor classically stylish as Northen Lux, but it had its charms. Most of the houses were mansions with a large front yard. He was disappointed that they couldn’t visit the capital but he knew that time is precious to them.

“You ok?” he heard Lei ask. Clyne couldn’t see Tessa’s expression but Lei looked worried. Even without seeing Tessa’s face, he understood how she felt. How it felt to go back to the place where one lost everything.

“Yeah,” Tessa’s weak voice reached him. He glanced at Faz who was walking beside her. He had his eyes on her. Oh Faz…

“Do you want to rest, Tessa?” Skhy, who was walking in front of them, asked.

“No,” she replied, louder this time, “Let’s continue.”

“I want to rest,” Aria suddenly said, making Clyne stare at her.

“Me too.” Nate’s eyes lacked sleep but he joined in convincing Tessa.

“Guys-”

“We need to eat too,” Faz cut her off. Clyne smiled. He felt warm watching his friends. He hoped Tessa felt it too. She reluctantly nodded. The group found a nearby park with a few people. The sky was clear but the sun was hidden behind a tall mansion. The warm comforting wind blew making the branches sway and leaves flutter. A few young students passed by laughing together. The seven adventurers settled beside a tree and started eating the snacks they brought from Westward. No one said a word for a few minutes. Clyne figured that his friends were also enjoying the comfortable silence and scenery. He hoped that they safely reached the island without encountering any danger. It was the main reason the group used a portal even though using it requires tremendous power which would make the portal unable to be used for several weeks to recharge. Sentries and the high officials were the main persons who use portals. I wonder where the Mortemians’ portals are.

“We’re going to take the bus from here, right?” It was Lei who cut the silence.

“Yes,” Skhy replied, “It’s easier.” He glanced at Tessa who was silently biting on her sandwich. Clyne was glad that they didn’t have to pass through Tessa’s town which was near the capital. He noticed as Faz passed her a bottle of water. He’s still angry, huh.

It wasn’t long before they had to leave and continue their journey. The bus ride from the town they were at to the town near the coast would take almost four hours. Clyne enjoyed sitting beside Aria who fell asleep on his shoulder. Skhy sat together with Lei, Faz with Tessa, while Nate sat alone. Within a few minutes after Aria fell asleep, Clyne’s eyes slowly closed.

He was awakened when his body suddenly jerked forward, his right lower arm painfully hitting the back of the seat in front of him while his left arm instinctively protected Aria.

“What happened?” he asked no one in particular. Some of the passengers stood up. Skhy and Faz did too. The group sat near the end of the bus and since several people were standing up, Clyne couldn’t see what’s happening in the front.

“I’m going to check,” Skhy said then walked through the crowd. The people started murmuring while the rest of the group patiently waited for Skhy. Clyne turned to Aria.

“Did you hit anything?” She shook her head. After pushing the glass window up, she lifted herself so her head and shoulder dangled outside the bus. Clyne panicked.

“What if you fall?” he whisper-shouted. She didn’t respond.

“Why are you looking outside?” he asked. He didn’t get to hear Aria’s response because Skhy returned, his face looked as if he had seen a ghost.

“We have to leave the bus.” Clyne frowned, confused.

“How many are there?” Faz was already carrying his and Tessa’s backpacks. Only when Faz asked that Clyne realized what’s happening. Aria quickly stood up followed by Clyne.

“There are five in front.” Skhy pushed through the crowd to find the exit near the group. The others quickly followed without a word. Clyne couldn’t sense the intruders.

“Please open the door,” Skhy shouted to the driver.

“It’s dangerous,” the driver shouted back.

“They’re after us,” Faz barked, “It’s dangerous for everyone here.” Clyne felt the crowd of passengers’ burning stare. After a few seconds, the door slid open. One by one, the adventurers hopped off the bus. The seven ran toward the rows of trees beside the road without looking whether the intruders noticed them. After only a few rows of trees, they found themselves in a wide grassland with a sand-like castle but no one stopped running. Clyne noticed that the castle looked like the ones he saw in the Southern Edgeburn with Faz. A third of it had been destroyed. Only two of its towers remained, including the one in the middle. Under the blazing sun, it stood majestically but it was clearly abandoned for decades.

Clyne’s knees started aching halfway through the grassland. Another row of trees lined the end of the grassland. Why does it feel like it’s far away?

“Stop.” His body immediately froze. The others stopped in their tracks. What the hell? The voice sounded like a whisper but held so much power that Clyne couldn’t ignore the command. The group stood in front of the castle trying to catch their breath. They weren’t stuck like when in the mist.

“Let’s go,” Tessa said in between heavy breaths, “We don’t know what they are.”

“Yeah,” Lei replied. Are they Mortemians? Part of Rosein Army? Concordian spies for Mortemians?

“Why do we have so many enemies?” Clyne muttered. Faz chuckled without humour.

“I don’t think we can run away from them.” Aria, like the others, was surveying the surroundings.

“Agree.” Clyne stood closer to her.

“Ah. The Seven Regalis.” This time, the voice echoed. Clyne turned to the castle’s entrance anticipating the intruders. From its darkness, a body wearing a long navy robe stepped into the light of the morning sun. His head was covered with the robe’s hood. Clyne knew the seriousness of the situation but he couldn’t help but sigh. How many kinds of enemies are there? This is definitely a weird one.